Photo courtesy of West Virginia Division of Tourism

Welcome to the home of:

Safer 
Charleston, West Virginia 
Abandoned Charleston

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    Abandoned Charleston 
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Contacts

    The goal of "Abandoned Charleston" is to identify abandoned property, contact the owner, and attempt an improvement goal for the property. This program/project has been initiated due to information gathered from our first survey. Abandoned property creates many problems for neighbors and citizens. A vacant place for crime, unacceptable housing for the homeless, deterioration of neighborhoods and social morale, decreased property values of surrounding properties, and makes for an unsafe environment just to name a few. In some cities, owners of abandoned properties pay higher city fees and fines. Maybe that would be a way to create funding for working neighborhood improvement programs.

     We will start with verified photographs of abandoned property including address and pertinent information with regard to effect on the immediate community. All abandoned properties submitted will be verified before posting that the property is  abandoned. For clarity, abandoned meaning;
     1. Boarded up property.
     2. Property which has been vacant for a period of longer than three months with no activity such as residents and or, "for sale" or "for rent" signs. 

    We will then locate and contact the owners of these properties. Our goal is to motivate the owners to eradicate abandoned properties. Results of contacts with owners will be reported here, including owner plans for the properties.  This information will then be sent on to appropriate agencies for support on resolution of the problems. We will also post information on how the citizens of Charleston may be involved to assist in resolving this blight upon the city. 

    You may either submit a text report of abandoned property, or include a photograph.